Tips for Keeping Indoor Air Free and Clear of Irritants

Interior air issues cause a variety of health issues. When we let the quality of the air we are breathing indoors decline, then we are tempting fate, risking allergies and infections. Of course, keeping these problems from taking root is not all that difficult; some basic practices will keep you safe. Here is a list of the most important.

Regular Housework

The foundation of home cleanliness is keeping up on your regular cleaning tasks. Each helps prevent pollutants from entering your home ecosystem. For instance, vacuuming picks up dirt, dust, and animal dander that could otherwise enter the air, though you’ll want to pay attention to the quality of your vacuum to make sure you are not buying one that will only kick up more dirt. Keeping food waste from building up is also a good idea; food that has gone bad will often mold, sending out spores that can cause bigger issues.

Change the Filter

Your home comes equipped with a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, which helps keep the temperature seasonable indoors all year long. But that system is large and complex and needs regular maintenance to make sure no degradation of function or systemic breakdown occurs. One easy HVAC maintenance task is changing out the filter on your furnace. This filter helps to catch any dust and dirt that circulate in your HVAC system, keeping it from the air you breathe. Changing a filter is easily done even by a non-professional, as long as you pay attention to the specifications of your furnace.

Get Your Ducts Cleaned

Filters aren’t the only part of your HVAC that need maintenance. Your system works by pushing air through a series of ducts, and over time, the particulate matter and moisture sometimes carried by that air will accumulate in the ducts, leading to an HVAC system that is blowing dust into your rooms. In the worst cases, the moisture and darkness can even lead to mold growth, which will play havoc on allergies. Getting a regular inspection and cleaning from a qualified professional should be a part of your home maintenance routine, as any delay can have serious consequences to your health.

Open the Windows

The air inside a building will eventually tend to get a little stale, regardless of how often you perform HVAC maintenance. Sometimes, all that needs doing is for someone to open a window and let in some outside air. Of course, this strategy is highly dependent on the time of year; leaving the windows open during the dead of winter or heart of summer can quickly leave your home unlivable. Moreover, you need to remember to turn off the HVAC system before you open the windows and to close them again before you turn the system back on.

The indoor air environment needs careful stewardship as much as the outside air does. Thinking about the impact your living practices have on your health will help keep you in the best shape possible.